Professionally known as Les Twins, identical twin brothers Laurent and Larry Bourgeois
are French dancers, choreographers, and models.
Often referred to by their respective nicknames, "Lil Beast" and "Ca Blaze", they are recognized
internationally for their talents in new style hip-hop dancing.
Born and raised in Sarcelles, France, the self-taught dance duo became the darlings
of the French audience in 2008 as finalists on the popular television show Incroyable
Talent.
They quickly rose to prominence in the United States after a video of their performance
on the San Diego leg of the 2010 World of Dance tour went viral on YouTube, surpassing
over 22 million views as of June 2014.
In 2011 they won the Hip-hop New Style division of the prestigious international street dance
competition Juste Debout.
Les Twins have been featured dancers for various music artists, including Beyoncé Knowles
and Missy Elliott.
Standing at 6'4" tall, the brothers have modeled for French haute couture fashion designer
Jean Paul Gaultier and appeared in many high-profile commercial advertising campaigns.
In addition to teaching their original choreography in workshops around the globe, they are also
the founding members of the successful dance team Criminalz Crew.
Early life and career beginnings The twins were born on December 6, 1988 in
Sarcelles, a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France.
They are the youngest in a large, Guadeloupean extended family of 18 children that includes
two other sets of twins, and a brother 25 years their senior.
Neither Larry nor Laurent received any formal dance training.
Instead, they learned by observing other breakers, lockers, and poppers and by teaching themselves
classical ballet techniques.
At the age of 12, they began performing in concerts and musicals.
According to WAD Magazine, "They were born dancers.
They walked at 5 months, seriously moved their bodies at 18 months old, and at 9 they showed
off steps they had invented to youngsters twice their age in their neighborhood."
In 2005 the brothers recruited five members to form their own dance team called Criminalz
Crew, spending the next few years competing in hip-hop tournaments and entertaining crowds
as street performers and in clubs.
In 2007 they danced to sold-out audiences in the musical Pas de Quartier at France’s
esteemed Avignon Festival.
Dance career In March 2008 Les Twins gained the attention
of the dance community by defeating French street dancers Joseph Go and Meech Onomo at
the semi-finals of the prestigious international dance competition Juste Debout.
Following that success, they were finalists and audience favorites on Season 3 of Incroyable
Talent aired on M6.
On November 13, 2008 the twins were among the top twelve finalists competing on the
Incroyable Talent finale show attended by Princess Stéphanie of Monaco and watched
by over 4 million viewers.
In 2009 they were contracted to perform the two-man hip-hop comedy stage revue Twins choreographed
by their long-time coach Abibou "Playmo" Kébe at the Théâtre Trévise in Paris.
In August 2010 a video of their performance on the World of Dance tour in San Diego went
viral on YouTube.
On November 9, 2010 they made their U.S. television debut on The Ellen Degeneres Show.
In March 2011 the twins won the Hip-hop New Style division at Juste Debout, beating out
over 353 dancers.
That same year they performed alongside Beyoncé Knowles at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards,
the U.K.'s Glastonbury Festival, the BET Awards, and the Good Morning America Summer Concert
Series, garnering even greater attention on the world stage.
They also joined her on the French television shows X-Factor and Le Grand Journal to promote
her then upcoming album 4, and were the only featured male dancers in the alternate version
of her Run the World video.
Their collaboration with Knowles would continue in May 2012 at the Revel Presents: Beyoncé
Live concert series in Atlantic City.
Larry and Laurent were star dancers on the Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour by
Cirque du Soleil until December 2011.
On March 6, 2012 the pair joined rapper Big Sean on-stage at the after-party for Kanye
West’s Fall 2012 fashion show at La Halle Freyssinet in Paris.
One month later they performed with Missy Elliott and Timbaland at Hennessy's "Wild
Rabbit" campaign launch event in New York.
Les Twins debuted on Japan’s largest television network Nippon TV on July 24, 2012.
During November 2012 they guest starred on the television dance competition Everybody
Dance!
in Ukraine and teamed up again with Missy Elliott at the Beats on the Beach event in
Abu Dhabi and the Back2Black Festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
In December 2012 the twins began working on multiple projects with Sony Japan.
In 2013, they toured with Beyoncé as the only male dancers on The Mrs. Carter Show
World Tour.
The duo was also featured in the music video for Blow from Béyonce's self-titled album.
Modeling Les Twins are signed with NEXT Model Management
in Paris.
In 2010 they walked the runway at Paris Fashion Week for the Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 2010
Men’s Collection.
They have since been featured in numerous web, television, and print advertising campaigns,
including for Jay-Z’s viral video campaign "That’s Rocawear", New Era, Benetton, Givenchy,
H&M, Adidas, Pioneer Steez, EMOBILE, 25 Magazine, and Beats By Dre.
Choreography
Larry and Laurent have traveled the globe teaching their original choreography in countries
including the U.S., France, Japan, Canada, Russia, Germany, Italy, Finland, Ukraine,
Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Kyrgyzstan.
Crowds of up to 5000 people have been in attendance at some of their international dance workshops.
In 2010 they choreographed the dance sequence to the song Jump by Kris Kross in the Wii
video game Just Dance 2.
In June 2011 Fox broadcast a portion of the audition piece of contestants D*Day on Season
8 of the dance competition So You Think You Can Dance.
Although they were accused by many of plagiarizing their choreography from Les Twins’ World
of Dance San Diego performance on YouTube, D*Day was allowed to proceed to the next stage
of the competition.
In 2012 Bellman and Lewis returned on the SYTYCD Season 9 Atlanta auditions show claiming
their prior year’s routine was a homage to Les Twins’ work.
Artistry Dance style
Les Twins’ dance style is often categorized as hip-hop new style, a commercial form of
hip hop with a strong emphasis on isolations and musicality.
However, the twins are known for having created a unique style from this dance which they
refer to as "Twins-Style".
Due to their ability to anticipate and finish each other’s moves, the brothers quickly
gained a reputation for their timing and skill at making freestyle dance look like choreography.
Charlotte Guillemin of WAD Magazine wrote:
They have really created a form of hip-hop that is truly individual to them...They are
in perfect symbiosis.
They look totally disjointed with their very jerky movements, although at the same time
displaying an amazing fluidity.
They undulate, bend and twist, impossible to assess where their center of gravity lies:
both phenomenal and unreal.
Influences Larry and Laurent credit their major inspirations
as Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson, their coach Abibou "Playmo" Kébe, cartoons, and
their own siblings, nine of whom are also dancers.
Public image Les Twins are immediately recognizable for
their large afros and trademark style of dress—backwards pants, neck warmers, and kneepads worn around
the ankles.
Regarding their tendency to adopt other unique accessories, such as beaded bracelets and
necklaces, wristbands, watch chains, scarves, and ladies’ wear, Laurent stated: "We have
changed consciousness about fashion."
Television appearances 2008
Oct 2-Nov 13: Incroyable Talent – contestants/finalists 2010
Nov 9: The Ellen Degeneres Show – guests Nov 12: ABC News – featured in interview
on turfing dance style 2011
May 22: 2011 Billboard Music Awards – performed with Beyoncé
June 26: Glastonbury Festival 2011 – live televised BBC performance with Beyoncé
June 26: 2011 BET Awards – pre-taped footage from Glastonbury performance with Beyoncé
June 27: X Factor - performed with Beyoncé June 28: Le Grand Journal – performed with
Beyoncé Nov 8: Dancing With the Stars – performed
with the Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour
Aug 17: Les Twins: Born to Dance – BET International documentary
2012 May 24: The Making Of A Concert Part 1 of
2 – footage from Revel Presents: Beyoncé Live performance
July 24: Star Draft Conference - guests/judges Nov 9: Everybody Dance!
– guests Nov 17: Dancer’s World "Les Twins Special"
– Music On!
TV interview with host Sam 2013
Feb 3: Beyoncé O2 Priority TV Ad - promotion of The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour
Feb 16: Life Is But a Dream HBO special – rehearsal footage from the 2011 Billboard Music Awards
Feb 22: VH-1 Best Week Ever - commentary on Les Twins' appearance in Life Is But a Dream
Mar 31: Vivement Dimanche - actress Monica Bellucci discusses discovering Les Twins via
footage from their final 2008 Incroyable Talent performance
May 19: Beats By Dre Neon Mixr Commercial - promotion of Neon Mixr headphones for Target
retail stores June 1: Chime For Change's "The Sound of Change
Live" charity concert at London's Twickenham Stadium - performed with Beyoncé
June 2: "The Women’s Concert for Change: Live from London" - NBC 2-hour special with
highlights from the live Chime For Change concert performance
2014 Jan 29: The Arsenio Hall Show - guests
Jan 31: 106 & Park - guests Apr 21: Encontro com Fátima Bernardes - guests
Aug 24: MTV Video Music Awards - performed with Beyoncé
Music video appearances "Danse avec moi" by Les Déesses
"Joie de Vivre" by Magic System "Ca fait mal Remix" by La Fouine
"Dilly Dally" by Hakimakli featuring Jamie Shepherd
"La Gloria" by French-Argentine band Gotan Project
"Run the World" alternate video by Beyoncé "End of Time: Live at Roseland" by Beyoncé
"Play Hard" by David Guetta ft.
Ne-Yo and Akon "Now Is The Time" by Wally Lopez ft.
Jasmine Villegas for Pepsi "Blow" by Beyoncé
Awards and nominations Won – 2010 Battle of the Stylez - Germany
Won – 2011 Juste Debout Japan: Hip-hop New Style Division
Won – 2011 Juste Debout Finals: Hip-hop New Style Division
Won – 2011 Dance@Live Japan Hip-hop West Division
Nominated – 2011 Youth Rocks Awards: Rockin’ Dance Group of the Year
Won - 2012 Hip Hop International: All Styles Final World Battle
Won - 2012 Freestyle Session 15: Top Styles/All Styles Division
Gallery
References
External links Official website
Les Twins on Twitter Les Twins on Facebook